Ears Or Mouth?

I had a very interesting Thanksgiving week.  

I found out how Jesus must have felt in the middle of the world he came to live in.

Two opposite poles of existence. Opposite opinions, theological understandings, political philosophies, social justice and economical savvy.

I stood in a similar place as I lay in my bed, Tuesday night, wondering how I was to live in such a  position.

It is, to say the least, uncomfortable.

I was thinking about all of that again this morning; and I recalled something I heard long ago:   “God gave us two ears and only one mouth; because it is more important to listen than to speak.”

Now,  I will admit that my God-given-gift of listening has sometimes felt like a curse to me.

  

However as I lay there in my bed, on Tuesday night, I was thinking that what the world truly needs is more listeners.  People who are willing to hear what they disagree with; and not try to convince the speaker that they are misguided.

Because of my gift of listening, I have learn to treasure different opinions through the years.  

I have also learned that my way of thinking was stuck in old cultural conditioning.

This new way of listening has free me up to venture into new areas of thinking; and yes, living.

I have been given a much broader view of life’s possibilities.

My prayer for the near future, and on into forever, is that we all begin to use our ears more and our mouths less.

19 You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; ²⁰for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. ²¹Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness,…(James 1)

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. ²For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. ³If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. ⁴Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.  How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! ⁶And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. ⁷For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, ⁸but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. ¹⁰From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so.(James 3)